Two men have been charged and one arrested after a joint police investigation into the alleged movement of millions of dollars in cash from Tasmania to Victoria.
A 33-year-old from Hoppers Crossing, Victoria, and a 22-year-old from Sorell, Tasmania, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 12 following raids involving officers from Australian Federal Police, Tasmania Police, Victoria Police, and Australian Border Force.
Both men were charged with knowingly deal proceeds of crime and recklessly deal proceeds of crime.
In a statement, the AFP said it is alleged they facilitated the movement of criminal proceeds in cash from Tasmania and Victoria using hire cars and a commercial passenger and freight vessel.
Both were bailed to reappear in court on December 2, 2026.
A third man, 37, from Hoppers Crossing, was arrested and later released. He is expected to be charged via summons.
During the investigation — which started with intelligence from the Tasmania Police Crime and Intelligence Command — investigators identified the alleged movement of criminal assets between the states.
Tasmania Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (TAS JOCTF) members “subsequently executed search warrants at properties in Melrose and Sorell in Tasmania on 11 August, 2026”, the AFP said.
“Coordinated warrants were executed on the same day in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria, by members of the Victoria Police VIPER Taskforce, which arrested the three men.”
During the search warrants, officers seized more than $2.5 million worth of tobacco product, more than $1 million in cash, 9 kilograms of silver bars (worth more than $30,000) and one ounce of gold (worth more than $4,000), the AFP said.
Police also seized five imitation firearms, including a gel blaster firearm, three registered firearms, a .22 rifle and ammunition, a cash-counting machine and mobile devices, the AFP said.
AFP Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said the arrests followed “strong collaboration from the AFP’s commonwealth and state law enforcement partners”.
“This operation would not have been possible without the close cooperation between commonwealth and state law enforcement agencies on both sides of Bass Strait, and I thank all members involved,” Superintendent Imbriano said.
The AFP said the men face a maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Extracted in full from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-14/police-seize-tobacco-guns-gold-operation-prism-tas-vic/107040476
